JPS61107187A - Battery chamber for electrical device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to battery compartments in devices that use batteries, such as cameras, portable recorders, radios, televisions, pocket computers, and the like.

- Conventional technology Lithium batteries (Li batteries) have low self-discharge and can be used for a very long time (for example, about 10 years) if used infrequently, so they are increasingly being used in devices. I came. However, in this type of usage, it is difficult for the user to replace the battery, and the battery itself is AA or AAA.
They have problems such as being more expensive than manganese batteries. In the camera, a grip-shaped electrical case is detachably attached to the camera body, and two types of battery cases are available, one for AA batteries and one for AAA batteries, depending on the convenience of the user. A device that can use any AAA battery has been proposed, but it has the drawback of requiring two types of battery cases.

C. Problems to be Solved by the Invention The present invention attempts to provide a battery compartment for an electrical device that allows the selective use of different types of batteries, thereby allowing the user to select the battery that suits his or her usage of the electrical device. It is possible,
The aim is to ensure that the battery itself is used in ways that match its performance.

2. Means for solving the problem The present invention provides a battery support means for different types of batteries having different external shapes, a means for detecting the difference in the external shapes of the batteries, and a method for contacting the electrodes of the battery according to the detection result of the detecting means. A battery chamber is provided with a contact moving means for moving a power supply contact to a position where it contacts an electrode of a loaded battery.

E. Different types of operational batteries have different external shapes, and the positions of the electrodes when installed in the battery compartment also differ. The present invention utilizes this difference in external shape to move the power supply contact piece that contacts the electrode, so that a connection can be established between the circuit of the electrical device and the battery no matter which battery is installed. . The difference in the external shape of the battery can be reduced to the difference in the diameter and height of the battery. The battery chamber is provided with protrusions or recesses for holding objects of different diameters and heights in fixed positions according to their types within the battery chamber, and a movable contact member that comes into contact with the battery is provided. If provided, the amount of movement of this member will vary depending on the type of battery installed. The power supply contact piece is mechanically connected to this contact member and is moved to contact the battery electrode depending on the type of battery loaded.

Embodiment This embodiment is a camera battery compartment that can use either a Li battery pack or AAA batteries. A Li battery pack is a package of two batteries connected in series.
- The pack provides an output voltage of 6v. Therefore, in order to obtain compatibility with this battery pack, the relationship between the means 11 for detecting the difference between four ordinary 1.5V AAA batteries and the power supply contacts 5 and 20 is shown, and the first Figure A shows the case where a Li battery pack is used, and Figure B shows the case where AAA batteries are used.

When the Li battery pack 3 is loaded, the detection means 11 is pushed by the package side surface 3a and retreats to the right, and the lever 4.
Power supply contact pieces 5, 20 connected to the detection means 11 via 8
are electrodes 3b and 3 exposed on the top surface of the L1 battery pack.
C is brought into contact. When four AAA batteries are loaded in the same battery compartment, the AAA batteries are thinner than the Li batteries, so they fit into the battery compartment as shown at 21 to 24 in Figure 1B, and the Li battery pack 3 is loaded. When this happens, there is space where the side surface 3a was. Therefore, the detection means 11 protrudes to the left by the action of the spring 12, and therefore the detection means 11 and the lever 4
, 8 is moved up and down and to the right in the figure, and is brought into contact with electrodes 2a and 2b located at both ends of four AAA batteries loaded in series.

FIG. 2 shows the external shapes of the Li battery pack 3 and the AAA batteries 2.

The length l of the AAA battery is longer than the height j' of the Li battery pack 3. Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-section of the battery compartment 1. In this figure, the bottom is on this side of the paper, and the mechanism shown in Figure 1 is installed on this bottom and can be opened and closed on the opposite side of the paper. There is a battery compartment lid that can be used.

In FIG. 3, a chain line 3 indicates a state in which a Li battery pack is loaded into the battery compartment, and solid lines 21 to 24 indicate a state in which four AAA batteries are loaded. The cross marks 3b and 3c are the center positions of the electrodes of the Li battery pack when loaded into the battery compartment, and similarly, 2a and 2b are the center positions of the electrodes of the batteries at both ends of the AAA battery row.

FIG. 4 shows the lid 14 of the battery chamber 1 mentioned above. Reference numeral 14b is the shaft of a hinge that attaches this lid to the main body side of the battery chamber so that it can be opened and closed. The inner surface of the lid (top surface in the figure) has a third
The AAA batteries are compatible with the arrangement of the AAA batteries 21 to 24 shown in the diagram.
A recess 14a into which a battery is inserted and held is formed. L
i The height of the battery pack is lower than that of AAA batteries as shown in Figure 2, so when the battery pack is loaded into the battery compartment and the lid 14 is closed, the leaf spring 17 attached to the inner surface of the lid 14 Press the bottom of the battery pack so that the electrode 31) and 3C are connected to the contact piece 5.2.
0 (FIG. 1). A leaf spring 15°16 is attached to the bottom of the concave Pfrl 4a. These leaf springs serve to electrically connect the AAA batteries 21 to 24 adjacent to each other and to press the electrodes 2a, 2b of the batteries 21, 24 into contact with the contacts 5.degree. 20.

Also, the batteries 22 and 23 are interconnected by a connecting conductor (FIG. 1 13) provided at the bottom of the battery compartment.
5 and 16 also act to press the batteries 22 and 23 onto this connecting conductor 13.

FIG. 5 shows the mechanism shown in FIG. 1 when AAA batteries are loaded. The power supply contacts 5 and 20 are conductor levers 4 and 8, respectively.
The levers 4 and 8 are each pivoted to the bottom of the battery compartment 1 by means of a pin 6.9, with the lever 4 being rotated counterclockwise in the figure by a spring 7, and the lever 8 being rotated counterclockwise in the figure by a spring 10. They are each biased clockwise. Detection means 11
are made of an insulating material and abut against the mutually opposite ends of the levers 4.8 from the rear right in the figure, and by the action of the spring 12 move the levers 4 and 8 against the action of the respective springs 7.9. Power supply contact piece 5
P 20 are driving away from each other. Battery compartment 1
When the interior is empty, the detection means 11 moves forward to the left in the figure since there is nothing to hit, and accordingly, the contact pieces 5 and 20 are in the most open positional relationship. FIG. 5 shows this state, and this state does not change even if AAA batteries 21 to 24 are loaded. A AAA battery is inserted into the battery chamber 1 from below as shown in the figure, and when the lid is closed, the anode 2a of the battery 21 is connected to the contact piece 5 and the cathode of the battery 22 is and 2
The anode of the battery 24 is brought into pressure contact with the connecting conductor 13, and the cathode of the battery 24 is brought into pressure contact with the contact piece 20, thereby forming a series connection of the batteries 21-24. Output is from contact piece 5.20 to lever 4.8
, is applied to the camera's electrical circuit via bin 6.9.

FIG. 6 shows the mechanism shown in FIG. 1 when the L1 battery is loaded. As shown in FIG. 5, the detection means 11 has an inclined surface 1xb formed at its lower part, and when the battery pack 3 is inserted into the battery chamber, the side surface 3a of the battery pack first falls on this inclined surface. When hit, press the inclined surface to the right and backward as shown in the figure. Therefore, the detection means 11 retreats to the right rear against the spring 12,
For this purpose, the levers 4, 8 are pivoted by the action of the springs 7, 10, respectively, in a direction in which the contact pieces 5, 20 approach each other, and assume the position shown. In this state, the battery pack 3 further enters the battery chamber, and the electrodes 3b and 3c exposed from the battery pack come into contact with the conductor pieces 5 and 2Q. When the lid is closed, the electrodes 3b and 3c are connected to the contact pieces 5 and 20 by the action of the leaf spring 17 (Fig. 4).
The connection between the L1 battery and contact piece 5.20 is completed.

FIG. 7 and the following are other embodiments, in which one Li battery pack and two AA batteries can be replaced. As mentioned above, the output voltage of the Li battery pack is 6V, and the output of two AA batteries in series is 3V. Therefore, this embodiment is applied when the electrical device is equipped with a configuration that can accept either a 6V power source or a 37V power source.

Specifically, when driving the camera control circuit and the strobe device using a common power supply, the control circuit operates at 3V, and when a Li battery pack is used, the power is supplied via a step-down circuit. The strobe device is equipped with a configuration that switches the step-up ratio of the booster circuit, and is applied to devices that can operate at either 3V or 6V.
Since the step-down circuit and step-up ratio switching means are not subject to the invention, they will be omitted.

FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the Li battery pack 3 and the AA batteries 33 in the battery compartment l. 33p, 33m are the positions of the anode and cathode of two AA batteries in series, 3p, 3m are ]1
．． +i These are the positions of the anode and cathode of the battery pack 3. Power supply contacts 5, 20. Lever 4, 8. The construction and operation of the bins 61, 91, detection means 11, etc. are exactly the same as in the embodiments described above, so a description thereof will be omitted. In Figure 9, 35, 36.3
7 is an electrode pattern connected to the electric device, 37 is connected to the earth line of the circuit, is common to both the L1 battery p and the AA battery, and has a fan shape that includes the movement locus of the contact piece 20; The contact pieces 20 are in constant contact. The electrode 35 is a 6V terminal on the electrical device side, and the electrode 36 is the same (3V terminal, and both electrodes are arranged on the movement locus of the power supply contact piece 5. In the figure, the solid line positions of the levers 4 and 8 are This is the case when two AA batteries are loaded, the contact piece 5 is in contact with the electrode 36, and the contact piece 20 is in contact with the electrode 36.
is in contact with the electrode 37. The position of the lever 4.8 indicated by the chain line indicates the case where the Li battery pack is loaded.
20 move toward each other, the contact piece 5 is in contact with the electrode 35, and the contact piece 20 is in contact with the electrode 35.

G. Effect The present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, with a common battery compartment,
Moreover, different types of batteries can be loaded without using adapters or spacers, and the user can select any battery according to the user's convenience. It will be put to good use. Also, for example, Li batteries are somewhat difficult to obtain at present, so if you run out of Li batteries while traveling, you can use AA or AAA batteries even if Li batteries are not available locally. This invention is often available and is very useful in such cases. In addition, the power supply contact is pushed by the battery's external shape and automatically assumes a predetermined position, so there is no need for manual switching even when changing battery types, making it easy to operate and prevent malfunctions.
The feature is that there is no possibility of mistakes such as forgetting to operate.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the main part of an embodiment of the present invention, A shows the case when a Li battery pack is loaded, B shows the case when AAA batteries are loaded, and Fig. 2 shows the Li battery pack and the AAA battery. A perspective view of
Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the battery compartment, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lid of the battery compartment, Figure 5 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 1B, and Figure 6 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 1A. , FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the battery compartment of another embodiment, FIG. 8 is a plan view of the main part of the same embodiment when AA batteries are loaded, and FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the same embodiment. It is. Agent Hiroshi Patent Attorney (Go to Figure 1 C) Figure 2 4"@i6A'-t7 Figure 5 Figure 7

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A wall in which a cavity is formed that can be loaded with any of different types of batteries with different external shapes and has an inner surface shape that holds the installed battery in a fixed position according to the type, and a wall that protrudes into this cavity. By moving according to the external shape of the loaded battery,
A detection means for detecting a difference in battery external shape, and a contact movement means mechanically connected to the detection means for moving a power supply contact to the electrical device to a position where it contacts an electrode of an attached battery. Battery compartment of electrical equipment. (2) The inner surface of the cavity into which the battery is loaded is shaped to support the loaded battery so that the battery electrode that contacts the power supply contact piece is located on the same plane for any type of battery loaded. A battery compartment of an electrical device according to claim 1. (3) The battery chamber of an electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the contact piece moving means is a rotary lever that moves the power supply contact piece within a plane in which the electrodes of the loaded batteries exist.